Ellingson drowned while he was handcuffed in custody at the Lake of the Ozarks. The state trooper who handcuffed Ellingson failed to place him in the proper life jacket, an investigation showed.

“They’ll never be made whole as parents or family members because they’ve lost their son, brother and very good friend to many people,” said Matt Boles, the Ellingson family attorney.

The Ellingson family is seeking damages for Brandon’s mental and physical suffering and loss of reputation. Court documents indicate Piercy violated Ellingson’s constitutional rights in failing to properly secure him while he was handcuffed and in Piercy’s direct custody.

The lawsuits list eight claims against Piercy and 10 others against members of the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Ellingson’s family accuses multiple officers and the Morgan County, Missouri, coroner of covering up crucial facts during the investigation.

Initial toxicological results showed cocaine in Brandon’s system. Those results were presented to a Missouri jury during a special inquest.

Results from the Missouri Highway Patrol test, however, did not show cocaine in Ellingson’s system, but the coroner failed to present those results to the jury, court documents indicated.

“We’re asserting those that were responsible for making sure that this investigation was handled to find the truth were attempting to do anything but find the truth as to how Brandon Ellingson drowned back in May,” Boles said.